Asthma vs Cystic Fibrosis
Asthma and Cystic Fibrosis are easy to mix up on the boards. Here's a side-by-side comparison — presentation, workup, imaging, and first-line treatment — drawn from our full outlines.
Asthma vs Cystic Fibrosis at a glance
- Asthma: Chronic reversible airway inflammation with episodic bronchoconstriction.
- Cystic Fibrosis: Autosomal recessive CFTR dysfunction causing thick secretions, lung disease, and pancreatic insufficiency.
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Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | Asthma | Cystic Fibrosis |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | Chronic reversible airway inflammation with episodic bronchoconstriction. | Autosomal recessive CFTR dysfunction causing thick secretions, lung disease, and pancreatic insufficiency. |
| Classic presentation | Wheezing that improves with short-acting beta-agonist; nocturnal cough; symptom relief between episodes.; Episodic wheeze, cough (often nocturnal), chest… | Neonatal: meconium ileus (10-20%), failure to thrive, prolonged jaundice; Pulmonary: chronic productive cough, recurrent pneumonia, sinusitis, nasal polyps,… |
| Workup / key labs | GINA: history of variable respiratory symptoms + confirmed variable expiratory airflow limitation (bronchodilator reversibility, methacholine positivity, or… | CF Foundation 2017: clinical features OR positive newborn screen OR sibling history PLUS evidence of CFTR dysfunction — sweat chloride ≥60 mmol/L (two tests)… |
| Imaging | CXR — usually normal or hyperinflation; obtain to exclude alternative diagnoses or complications (pneumothorax, pneumonia); HRCT if bronchiectasis or… | HRCT chest — bronchiectasis (upper lobe predominant in CF), mucus plugging, air trapping; CXR — hyperinflation, peribronchial thickening, atelectasis;… |
| First-line treatment | GINA 2024 has eliminated SABA-only treatment; all adults and adolescents should receive ICS-containing therapy; Step 1-2 (mild): low-dose ICS-formoterol PRN… | CFTR modulator therapy — disease-modifying, transformative:; Elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (Trikafta) — for ≥2 years with ≥1 F508del or other responsive… |
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